{"podcast":{"title":"Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel","slug":"admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","podcast_index_feed_id":6069707,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/461571/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/461571","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/7/0/7/9/70790ea0084cb796a04421dee9605cbd/AP_cover_art.png","author":"Thomas Caleel","episode_count":136,"summary":"Does thinking about applying to college, grad school, or prep school make your head spin? The Admittedly Podcast is for both parents and students preparing for or navigating school admissions. We aim to demystify the admissions process and share with you what you really need to know to succeed. Our host, Thomas Caleel, former director of MBA admissions and financial aid for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is here to help. He is a lifelong entrepreneur and CEO of a global admissions consulting agency where he works with families worldwide to help them achieve their educational goals. New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn from our guest speakers, live coaching sessions, and weekly solo episodes. Have admissions questions you'd like answered on the show? Apply to be coached by Thomas himself on one of our upcoming recordings. In this podcast, we don't promise easy answers or quick fixes. But with decades of experience under his belt, Thomas will address the practical aspects of applying to school and how to think like an admissions officer to improve your college or prep school application.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707"},"episode":{"title":"S5E3: Raising Resilient Kids: Nature Connections, Mental Health, and College Readiness with Mario Mendez of Wilderness Youth Project (WYP)","slug":"s5e3-raising-resilient-kids-nature-connections-mental-health-and-college-readiness-with-mario-mendez-of-wilderness-youth-project-wyp","published_at":"2026-01-13T20:35:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s5e3-raising-resilient-kids-nature-connections-mental-health-and-college-readiness-with-mario-mendez-of-wilderness-youth-project-wyp","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","url":"https://0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12.libsyn.com/s5e3-raising-resilient-kids-nature-connections-mental-health-and-college-readiness-with-mario-mendez-of-wilderness-youth-project-wyp","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12/S5E3_Mario_Interview_FINAL_FOR_LIBSYN.mp3?dest-id=3894051","summary":"If you're ready to take the next step in your admissions journey, visit https://admittedly.co/apply to register for a free Family Action Call with one of our advisors. Parents worry about grades, test scores, and résumés. But underneath all of that, what really shapes a student who can thrive in competitive academics and in life? In this episode, Thomas Caleel talks with Mario Mendez, Community Accountability Manager and Senior Program Staff at Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) in Santa Barbara, about how nature, unstructured exploration, and real-world challenge help kids build the resilience, awareness, and confidence they need long before they ever apply to college. Mario draws on decades of experience working with young people in South America, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Together, he and Thomas unpack how nature-based programs can support mental health, reduce stress, and help students develop a stronger sense of self – and why those qualities matter so much in highly selective college admissions. Key Topics & Takeaways Education beyond the classroom Why real education includes social emotional learning, self-awareness, and lived experience, not just what happens in class. Nature as a tool for awareness and belonging How tracking, observation, and time outdoors teach kids to notice their surroundings, read a room, and understand their impact on others. Access, equity, and Bridge to Nature How programs like WYP's Bridge to Nature serve under resourced students, and why nature connection is not just for \"outdoorsy\" or privileged families. What families can do anywhere Practical ways to build nature connection in cities and suburbs using small routines: a single tree, a window, a daily walk, or attention to seasonal changes. Storytelling, resilience,…","meta_description":"If you're ready to take the next step in your admissions journey, visit https://admittedly.co/apply to register for a free Family Action Call with one of…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3019,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/episodes/s5e3-raising-resilient-kids-nature-connections-mental-health-and-college-readiness-with-mario-mendez-of-wilderness-youth-project-wyp/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s5e3-raising-resilient-kids-nature-connections-mental-health-and-college-readiness-with-mario-mendez-of-wilderness-youth-project-wyp.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}